Dental Morphology and Human Dentition

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering human dentition, tooth anatomy, periodontium, crown landmarks, and tooth notation systems.

Maxilla

The upper dental arch whose contained teeth are termed upper or maxillary teeth.

Mandible

The lower dental arch whose contained teeth are termed lower or mandibular teeth.

Quadrant

One of four equal right and left segments formed when a midline divides each dental arch.

Mastication

The primary function of the teeth designed for biting, cutting, tearing, and grinding food based on their shape, size, and location.

Anatomical Crown

The portion of a tooth covered by enamel extending from the incisal edge to the cervical line.

Clinical Crown

The portion of a tooth visible within the oral cavity, which may consist of the anatomical crown or crown plus part of the root.

Cementoenamel Junction

The cervical line marking the anatomical boundary between the crown and the root.

Anatomy of a Tooth

The structural composition of a tooth, consisting of three hard tissues (enamel, dentin, cementum) and one soft tissue (pulp).

Periodontium

The investing and supporting attachment system of teeth consisting of two soft tissues (gingiva and periodontal ligament) and two hard tissues (cementum and alveolar bone).

Periodontal Ligament

Strong tissue fibers that attach the cementum of the tooth root to the surrounding alveolar bone.

Alveolar Bone

The jawbone structure that surrounds and supports the root of the tooth.

Gingiva

The oral mucous membrane (gum tissue) covering the neck of the tooth and part of the alveolar bone.

Root Trunk

The undivided basal portion of the root on a multirooted tooth before it bifurcates or trifurcates.

Furcation

The point or region on a multirooted tooth where the undivided root trunk divides into individual roots.

Primary Dentition Dental Formula

The formula representing teeth in one half of the primary dentition: $I \frac{2}{2} C \frac{1}{1} M \frac{2}{2} = 10$ (totaling 20 teeth).

Permanent Dentition Dental Formula

The formula representing teeth in one half of the permanent dentition: $I \frac{2}{2} C \frac{1}{1} PM \frac{2}{2} M \frac{3}{3} = 16$ (totaling 32 teeth).

Facial Surface

The tooth surface facing outward towards the oral vestibule, designated as labial in anterior teeth (facing lips) and buccal in posterior teeth (facing cheeks).

Lingual Surface

The tooth surface facing inward toward the oral cavity, designated as palatal in maxillary teeth and lingual in mandibular teeth.

Proximal Surface

A surface adjacent to another tooth in the same arch, divided into mesial (towards the midline) and distal (away from the midline).

Line Angle

An angle formed on the tooth crown along the junction line of two intersecting surfaces.

Point Angle

A point corner formed on the tooth crown by the junction of three intersecting surfaces.

Lobe

One of the primary calcification and growth centers formed during crown development (teeth develop from 4 lobes, except first molars which develop from 5).

Mamelons

Three small rounded projections of enamel located on the incisal edge of newly erupted incisors.

Cingulum

A smooth rounded elevation on the cervical third of the lingual surface of anterior teeth crowns formed by the lingual lobe.

Tubercle

A small elevation on a tooth crown produced by localized excessive formation of enamel.

Cusp

A pyramidal elevation on the incisal portion of canines and occlusal surfaces of premolars and molars formed by a lobe and containing enamel, dentin, and a pulp horn.

Marginal Ridges

Linear borders of enamel forming the mesial and distal margins of the lingual surface of anterior teeth and occlusal surface of posterior teeth.

Triangular Ridge

A linear elevation descending from the tip of a posterior cusp toward the central portion of the occlusal surface, triangular in cross-section.

Transverse Ridge

The continuous elevation formed by the union of two triangular ridges meeting directly across the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth.

Oblique Ridge

An elevation formed by the union of two triangular ridges crossing the occlusal surface of maxillary molars obliquely.

Developmental Groove

A shallow linear groove on a tooth denoting the junction between primary lobes during crown or root formation.

Supplemental Groove

A shallow linear depression radiating from a developmental groove that does not represent a junction between primary lobes.

Fissure

A narrow linear cleft or fault at the bottom of a developmental groove caused by incomplete fusion of enamel lobes.

Sulcus

A broad V-shaped valley on the occlusal surface formed by the inclines of adjacent cusps and ridges, centered along a developmental groove.

Fossa

An irregular depression or concavity found on the occlusal or lingual surface of a tooth crown.

Pit

A small pinpoint depression located at the junction or terminal endpoint of developmental grooves.

Socket

The bony cavity within the alveolar process containing the root(s) of an erupted tooth.

Crypt

The bony cavity within the alveolar process containing a developing, unerupted tooth.

Palmer Notation System

A notation system designating quadrant positions with L-shaped brackets, using numbers 1–8 for permanent teeth and letters A–E for deciduous teeth starting from the midline.

Two-Digit System (FDI)

An international notation system where the first digit indicates quadrant (1–4 for permanent, 5–8 for primary) and the second digit indicates tooth position relative to the midline.

Universal Notation System

A system assigning numbers 1–32 sequentially for permanent teeth and letters A–T for deciduous teeth, starting from the upper right quadrant.